Arms Enough for Dreaming

Antonia dreamed all the dreams
That were dreamable,
From adventures fantastical to
Nightmares unscreamable,
Lighthearted laughers
And capers half criminal.

Tony befriended the animals
And climbed every tree,
She ate all that’s edible
And brewed every tea,
Downed every dell and
Then lapped up the lee.

Annie traveled the paths and
The planets and oceans.
She learned every language,
All physical notions,
And lost herself deep in
Religious devotions.

Nia saw all the doorways
Spread out before her.
She dreamed up enough arms
To open them toward her.
But when she woke up,
It’d hit like a borer:
She’d just the two arms,
No less, and no morer.

But just the two are arms enough
To hold their share of charm,
To reap what dreams might sow
On real life’s magic farm—
And most of all important,
To snooze the darn alarm.